Record-Breaking Bluefin Tuna Auctioned for $1.3 Million in Tokyo

The annual tuna auction at Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo has witnessed a remarkable sale, with restaurateurs bidding 207 million yen ($1.3 million) for a massive bluefin tuna. The restaurant group aims to serve the fish, believed to bring good fortune, at its high-end dining establishments.

In a dazzling display of culinary tradition and high-stakes bidding, sushi restaurateurs in Tokyo recently paid a monumental 207 million yen (approximately $1.3 million) for a bluefin tuna, the size of a motorbike. This opulent sale ranks as the second-highest price ever recorded at the annual new year auction at Toyosu Fish Market, one of the world's largest fish markets.

The Onodera Group emerged as the winners of the auction, highlighting their commitment to serving superior quality seafood at their Michelin-starred Ginza Onodera restaurants and Nadaman locations nationwide. "The first tuna of the year is a symbol of good fortune,” stated Onodera official Shinji Nagao, who expressed hopes that the diners would enjoy the fish and “have a wonderful year.”

The prized tuna weighs in at a hefty 276 kilograms (608 pounds) and was sourced from the waters off Aomori, in northern Japan. This year’s auction marks the fifth consecutive year that the group has clinched the top bid, a significant leap from last year’s purchase of 114 million yen for another bluefin.

Notably, the all-time auction record for a tuna was established in 2019, when a 278-kilogram bluefin was sold for 333.6 million yen to self-proclaimed "Tuna King" and sushi restaurant proprietor Kiyoshi Kimura. This year, alongside the tuna, Hokkaido sea urchins also made waves by fetching a remarkable 7 million yen, as reported by Japan Times, showcasing the ongoing trend of luxurious culinary experiences at traditional markets.